The Meaning of Numbers 22:28 Explained

Numbers 22:28

KJV: And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

YLT: And Jehovah openeth the mouth of the ass, and she saith to Balaam, 'What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?'

Darby: And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

ASV: And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  opened  the mouth  of the ass,  and she said  unto Balaam,  What have I done  unto thee, that thou hast smitten  me these three  times? 

What does Numbers 22:28 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 22:21-40 - Balaam Warned What To Speak
If only Balaam had abided by his first answer to Balak's request, he would have been saved from the disgrace and suffering which ensued. But he seemed to think that it was possible to alter God's mind; hence his request to the second company of messengers that they give him time to ascertain God's will. Already that will had been clearly made known to him; what object had he in pressing for a further response?
When, finally, he was told that he might go, he rose up in the morning, saddled his ass, and started post-haste. He was trying to serve two masters-to speak as God bade him, but to please Balak and pocket his gold.
How many agencies God uses to arrest our evil courses! Peter specially refers to this incident, 2 Peter 2:16. Many cries are raised to stop the boat that is caught in the rapids above Niagara! Thus the way of transgressors is made hard by the love of God! [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 22

1  Balak's first message for Balaam is refused
15  His second message obtains him
22  An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his donkey
36  Balak entertains him

What do the individual words in Numbers 22:28 mean?

And opened Yahweh - the mouth of the donkey and she said to Balaam what have I done to you that you have struck me this [is] three times
וַיִּפְתַּ֥ח יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־ פִּ֣י הָאָת֑וֹן וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לְבִלְעָם֙ מֶה־ עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי לְךָ֔ כִּ֣י הִכִּיתַ֔נִי זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֥שׁ ؟ רְגָלִֽים

וַיִּפְתַּ֥ח  And  opened 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פִּ֣י  the  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
הָאָת֑וֹן  of  the  donkey 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָתֹון  
Sense: she-ass, she-donkey.
וַתֹּ֤אמֶר  and  she  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְבִלְעָם֙  to  Balaam 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּלְעָם 
Sense: the son of Beor, a man endowed with the gift of prophecy.
עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי  have  I  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְךָ֔  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
כִּ֣י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הִכִּיתַ֔נִי  you  have  struck  me 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
זֶ֖ה  this  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
שָׁלֹ֥שׁ  three 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
؟ רְגָלִֽים  times 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 22:28?

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